The ComicBook Nation crew breaks down the X-Men '97 Season 1 Finale and discusses all the reveals about the Season 2 storyline. We also review the new movie IF (2024).

PLUS: Geek News includes some big renewal news for some of streaming's hottest shows; a breakdown of Amazon's The Rings of Power Season 2 Trailer, and the Spider-Verse expands with Nic Cage's Spider-Man Noir TV show - even as Amazon's Silk: Spider Society series dies in development.

IF (2024) Review

ComicBook critic Jamie Jirak's IF movie review gives the film 3.5 out of 5 stars:

The film does a good job of reminding its audience that there's a kid in all of us, and that time can never truly take away your imagination. It's been a while since I looked around in a theater and saw multiple grown men shedding a tear. Krasinski knows how to appeal to parents, especially dads. While IF may not be a perfectly pieced-together movie, there's enough heart embedded in its core to make it a worthy trip to the cinema for families. The cast is delightful, the IFs are magical, and the warmth is undeniable.

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The Walking Dead Universe is taking a bite out of the UK. British broadcaster Sky announced today that all 11 seasons of AMC's The Walking Dead and three of its spinoff series -- The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live -- will be released in the UK exclusively on Sky and the streaming service NOW. All 177 episodes of the original zombie drama, currently streaming only on Netflix in the U.S., will be available on demand on Sky and NOW starting May 19; The Ones Who Live will release from May 31, with Dead City and Daryl Dixon coming to both Sky and NOW later this year.

The shows, which aired on AMC and AMC+ in the U.S., had limited availability outside North America. For example, AMC's Walking Dead spinoffs were released as Stan exclusives in Australia, but fans in the UK could only watch the original series (and none of the spinoffs) on Disney+.

"The Walking Dead Universe has a huge and ardent UK fanbase," said Lucy Criddle, Sky Director of Acquisitions and Strategic Projects. "We know audiences on Sky and NOW will be buzzing to see Rick Grimes and Michonne reunited in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, as well as being able to dip into the wider universe, enjoying all 11 seasons of the original The Walking Dead series, as well as new spin-offs Daryl Dixon and Dead City."

"We are delighted to have found a new home for The Walking Dead Universe in the UK. As we enter an exciting new chapter in the evolution of this franchise, with three new eagerly awaited, character-driven series, Sky is the perfect, premium home for UK viewers to embrace all things Walking Dead," added Mike Pears, executive vice president of distribution and content sales for AMC Networks. "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is the most successful series in the history of AMC+, even including the original series, so it is fitting that it will lead the way as Sky brings this entire universe to U.K. fans in the coming weeks and months on Sky and NOW."

According to Sky, Daryl Dixon season 1 will be available in August, with the upcoming second season -- subtitled The Book of Carol and co-starring Melissa McBride -- streaming on NOW later this year. Dead City season 1 will become available "later in 2024," and the upcoming second season will also head to the service in 2025. All three spinoffs are currently available to stream on-demand on the AMC+ streaming service in the U.S., along with episodes of spinoffs Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of the Walking Dead.

Dead City teams enemies Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in post-apocalyptic New York City; Daryl Dixon sees the titular survivor (Norman Reedus) wash ashore in zombie-plagued France and follows his attempt to return home to America; and The Ones Who Live reunites long-lost lovers Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) against their conflict with the Civic Republic Military.

Stay tuned to ComicBook/TWD and follow on Facebook for more TWD Universe coverage.

Following the latest episode of X-Men '97, the show's Professor X actor Ross Marquand joined ComicBook.com's Phase Zero podcast for a Spotlight episode. The in-person Spotlight covers many years of Marquand's career, starting with his time as Aaron on The Walking Dead which preceded his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since 2017, Marquand has taken on roles as Ultorn in Avengers: Damange Control and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Infinity Ultron in What If..?, Professor X (and now Doctor Doom!) in X-Men '97, and more.

Marquand had considered and decided on walking away from acting ahead of booking his role on The Walking Dead, with the full story being shared on the new Phase Zero episode. After becoming Aaron, Marquand booked his role as Red Skull in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame which filmed secretly in Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of booking the role, Marquand was not told the work was for an Avengers movie but the actor found out upon arrival. He quickly learned the secrets of Red Skull's scenes and was forced to keep them for years. Then, he would go on to book the Professor X role, with the original version of the character from X-Men: The Animated Series being a major reason he pursued acting, in the first place. On Monday, X-Men '97's Magneto actor Matthew Waterson joins Phase Zero for the next Spotlight episode.

Phase Zero's Spotlight episode with Ross Marquand can be seen in the video above. Additional links to Phase Zero can be found below:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Why is Phase Zero the Best MCU Podcast for you?

Launching on January 15, 2021, Phase Zero made its goal of building a fun and welcoming community of Marvel fans clear. In the time since, more than 3,000,000 listens across platforms and countless comments from listeners and viewers, the community has become one which celebrates the Marvel fandom and regularly engages in conversation about past and future titles. Having connected fans with some of their favorite actors, provided expert knowledge on upcoming titles, and analysis with comparisons to comics, Phase Zero is the one-stop podcast for all things Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The newly launched Spotlight episodes have featured guests looking back at new and exciting Marvel projects, with the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Iman Vellani, and Hayley Atwell joining the show. For more What If..? chatter, be sure to listen to the Spotlight episode with the creators of the series!

Phase Zero invites you to celebrate all things Marvel, hosting a weekly conversation of theories, speculation, and exclusive interviews and insights. It's the number one spot for MCU fans, welcoming those new to it all and those who think they know it all! New episodes are recorded live on Youtube every Wednesday at 12pm ET before being made available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, and wherever podcasts can be found. For updates regarding the Phase Zero podcast, follow the official Phase Zero account on Twitter!